Softball Tops Houston, 11-2, in American Conference Opener

Thursday, March 24

Houston, Texas

5:30 p.m.

Tulsa

22-5, 0

Houston

14-14, 0

Tulsa

Houston

Photo by: Dave Crenshaw

Softball Tops Houston, 11-2, in American Conference Opener

3/24/2016 9:47:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Eric Hollier

Box Score

HOUSTON, Texas – Senior catcher Catherine Horner went 4-for-4 with three RBI to lead the Tulsa softball team to an 11-2 win at Houston Thursday in the American Athletic Conference opener for both teams at Cougar Softball Stadium.

The Golden Hurricane (22-5, 1-0 American) scored five runs in the second inning, then kept the offense going, as it plated six runs over the final four innings. Senior Caitlin Sill (12-1) went the distance, striking out four batters and allowing one earned run on nine hits. UH starter Shelby Miller (4-1) allowed four runs in one complete inning, and took the loss for the Cougars (14-14, 0-1 American).

Junior third baseman Maggie Withee went 3-for-5 with three runs, while senior right fielder Kaitlin Allen, junior left fielder Maddie Withee and freshman second baseman Morgan Neal each scored two runs. Sophomore shortstop Shelby Estocado and freshman designated player Julia Hollingsworth each drove in two runs.

The Hurricane and Cougars continue the series Friday at 5:30 p.m.

"We had some good pitching and some good offense tonight," Tulsa Head Coach John Bargfeldt said. "Houston has the ability to be very tough at home, with our past experience. Scoring those runs early maybe helps take the pressure off a little bit. Horner swung it pretty well last weekend as well, and it was good to see that carry over until today."

Tulsa loaded the bases in the second inning with a pair of walks and an error, then got consecutive base hits from Maggie Withee and Neal to plate two runs. After a fielder's choice, Horner drove home two runs with a base hit down the right field line. Estocado followed with a sacrifice fly to make it a 5-0 game.

After going down in order in the third frame, the Hurricane responded with a run in each of the fourth and fifth innings, and two runs apiece in the sixth and seventh. Maggie Withee reached on an error to lead off the fourth inning, and moved around to score on a wild pitch on ball four to Estocado. In the fifth, Allen walked, and then scored on a throwing error by the catcher off a base hit by Maggie Withee.

Hollingsworth doubled home Maddie Withee and Estocado in the sixth inning to extend the lead to 9-1. The Cougars scored their first run in the bottom of the fifth when catcher Megan Noel singled to right center and scored three batters later on an error at first base. An RBI single by right fielder Elise Lebeouf in the sixth inning made the score 9-2.

The Hurricane added two more runs in the top of the seventh with four consecutive two-out hits. Maggie Withee doubled to left center and Neal singled up the middle, followed by RBI singles by Maddie Withee and Horner.

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Tulsa 11, Houston 2 (Mar 24, 2016 at Houston, Texas)
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Tulsa............... 050 112 2 - 11 11 3 (22-5, 1-0)
Houston............. 000 101 0 - 2 9 3 (14-14, 0-1)
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Pitchers: Tulsa - SILL, Caitlin and HORNER, Catherine. Houston - MILLER, S.; BELL, P.(2);
HEEBNER, S.(6) and NOEL, M..
Win-SILL, Caitlin(12-1) Loss-MILLER, S.(4-1) T-2:32 A-234
Weather: 66 degrees, sunny, windy
MILLER, S. faced 4 batters in the 2nd.
BELL, P. faced 2 batters in the 6th.